Thursday, August 27, 2015

BULLSHIT BUDDHISM

Coming out
of sleep I lay in bed

The fan
blowing a gentle breeze across my body

I kicked off
the covers and stretched

I cleared my
mind from monkey dreams

And listened
to the quietness of the house

Zen

I have been
to a Zen sangha – a Buddhist teaching community – and have read extensively; and one lie that is promulgated throughout, is that it is necessary to have a
physical teacher in order to achieve enlightenment – to become a Buddhist.

Buddhism,
and in particularly Zen, in its most basic teachings is not about teachers or chants
(Koan), not about robes, bells, whistles, icons or timed meditation. Buddhism is simply a path to help a person achieve
contentment by appreciating every conscious waking moment; and Zen is a path to
achieve that consciousness through meditation.

The Buddha found
enlightenment by himself and each of us have a Buddha nature. When we are seeking a more contented nature
me can distill Buddhist writings and lectures to a basic path that fits our own
individual needs.

Christianity
became a religion in 325 AD at the council of Nicea (Nicaea) when men decided
that Jesus was a god, and what writings would compose the bible, and what the
laws and teachings should be.

Likewise
after the death of the Buddha, men who had been explaining the simple concept
of achieving contentment through focusing on the beauty of the Now, began
adding trappings and rituals and requirements that was not the intent of the
Buddha. Teachers venerate themselves, they set
themselves up as somehow superior to us – again not the intent of the
Buddha.

If you are
interested in alleviating stress and living a more conscious life I would suggest
you read Buddhist materials – but not take them as gospel.

In my opinion, the best Buddhist (Zen)
teachings, the most distilled and easiest practiced and understood can be found
in two books by Steve Hagen: Buddhism Plain and Simple and Buddhism Is Not What You Think.

“Buddhism is not about beliefs and practices…
it is not a religion. It is about the
teachings of awakening – about examining the world clearly.”

3 comments:

I have really enjoyed your recent posts. I think that the Theravada tradition comes closest to the Buddha's original teachings. Bhante Kovida acknowledges that the dharma is more psycho-therapy then it is a religion. Meditation nothing more than a determined effort to see clearly. I agree that all the mumbo jumbo dilutes the teaching. Taking something simple and making it obscure for profit and ego. I wish you the very best my dear friend. Namaste!

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